About Optimism Place
Since 1983, Optimism Place has been Perth County’s only emergency service for women and children experiencing violence. For decades, we’ve been a trusted and compassionate resource where women can find safety, support, and connection as they take steps toward healing and independence.
Our services are grounded in respect, confidentiality, and choice. We meet people where they are, with a range of supports that can be accessed through shelter or outreach — because help should be flexible and centered on your needs.
Optimism Place supports women, with or without children, to live free from abuse by providing safe shelter and confidential, non-judgmental services.
We are dedicated to ending the cycle of violence through prevention, intervention, education, and advocacy.
Our MissionIn the early 1980s, community members in Stratford came together to explore the need for a women’s shelter in Perth County.
After confirming that need, local churches and service clubs were approached for support. The Optimist Club of Stratford generously purchased a house to be used as a shelter and leased it back to the community committee for $1 per year. To reflect both that spirit of care and the hopeful future the shelter aimed to provide, the name Optimism Place was chosen. Optimism Place officially opened in May 1983. In 1994, thanks to provincial funding, we built a new, larger, more accessible shelter at our current location on Freeland Drive. In 2022, we were fortunate to be one of 16 locations in Canada to receive a grant from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation which, along with funds raised in our community were able to expand to more than double the size. We increased our shelter from 7 bedrooms to 17 bedrooms and fully opened our expanded space in December 2024. Though it all we’ve continued to serve women and children each year with safety and dignity at the centre of everything we do.
Our HistoryAt Optimism Place, we believe that everyone deserves safety, support, and the opportunity to thrive.
We offer a range of services, from emergency shelter and community based support to legal advocacy and community education, all designed to support women and their children as they navigate life-changing transitions. We also recognize and honour diverse identities and experiences. While we use the term “women” in our name, we welcome and support all people who identify as women or gender-diverse. Our services are provided with respect, inclusivity, and compassion.
Our Commitment
